The writings of Clement of Alexandria, Vol. 2 (of 2)Clement, of Alexandria, Saint
Religion
The writings of Clement of Alexandria, Vol. 2 (of 2)
Clement, of Alexandria, Saint
Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- Early Church, ca. 30-600
And what? Does not he, who denies the Lord, deny himself? For does
he not rob his Master of His authority, who deprives himself of his
relation to Him? He, then, who denies the Saviour, denies life; for
“the light was life.”[528] He does not term those men of little faith,
but faithless and hypocrites,[529] who have the name inscribed on them,
but deny that they are really believers. But the faithful is called
both servant and friend. So that if one loves himself, he loves the
Lord, and confesses to salvation that he may save his soul. Though
you die for your neighbour out of love, and regard the Saviour as our
neighbour (for God who saves is said to be nigh in respect to what is
saved); you do so, choosing death on account of life, and suffering
for your own sake rather than his. And is it not for this that he is
called brother? he who, suffering out of love to God, suffered for
his own salvation; while he, on the other hand, who dies for his own
salvation, endures for love to the Lord. For he being life, in what he
suffered, wished to suffer that we might live by his suffering.
“Why call ye me Lord, Lord,” He says, “and do not the things which I
say?”[530] For “the people that loveth with their lips, but have their
heart far from the Lord,”[531] is another people, and trust in another,
and have willingly sold themselves to another; but those who perform
the commandments of the Lord, in every action “testify,” by doing what
He wishes, and consistently naming the Lord’s name; and “testifying” by
deed to Him in whom they trust, that they are those “who have crucified
the flesh, with the affections and lusts.” “If we live in the Spirit,
let us also walk in the Spirit.”[532] “He that soweth to his flesh,
shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit,
shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”[533]
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